A spicy drink in South and Central AmericaThe Mayans discovered the secret of cacao.
By 1400, the Aztecs ground cacao beans into a powder,
which they mixed with local spices such as chilies.
These people believed that drinking chocolate would bring health,
power and wisdom.
The popular cacao beans were also rare.
Therefore, they could be used like money to trade for other things.
For example:

1 cacao bean = 20 tomatoes

30 cacao beans = 1 small rabbit

A sweet drink in EuropeExplorers who went to South America brought cacao beans
back to Europe in the 1500s. Europeans added sugar and honey.
Vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon were also added later.
Hot chocolate became a favourite drink.

Chocolate barsThe first chocolate bars were made in 1847 in England.
Thirty years later, milk was added to chocolate bars in
Switzerland and the U.S.